Dewoitine D.500 Fighter - History, Specs and Pictures

Authored By Staff Writer

The D.500 series was a stopgap design, incorporating elements from two ages of aviation.

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The D.500 series, as a whole, was merely a stop-gap design for France - bridging a gap between two eras of aviation resulting from post-World War One design and preceeding World War, commonly known as the interwar years. The D.500 series offered up revolutionary changes in aircraft design by featuring a low-monoplane arrangement of the wing systems and an all-metal internal and external construction.

The D.501 was an improvement of the base D.500 in the series. The D.501 would feature an improved powerplant in the form of Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs inline piston engine delivering 690 horsepower and a twin 7.5mm machine gun defensive / offensive armament setup. A fixed tailwheel was a series standard, though some models are featured with a simple tailskid.

The D.501 would precede other variants that would culminate in the D.510, which feature increased range, performance figures and an increased internal fuel capacity. Dewoitines overall were saved from German invasion by their moving off French soil, ending up fighting in places halfway around the world such as China. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Dewoitine D.500
Fighter

Country of Origin: France
Manufacturer: Dewoitine - France
Initial Year of Service: 1936
Production: Not Available

Focus Model: Dewoitine D.501
Crew: 1

Length: 25.10ft (7.65m)
Width: 39.67ft (12.09m)
Height: 8.86ft (2.70m)
Weight (Empty): 3,146lbs (1,427kg)
Weight (MTOW): 4,222lbs (1,915kg)

Powerplant: 1 x Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs in-line piston engine generating 690hp.

Maximum Speed: 250mph (402kmh; 217kts)
Maximum Range: 612miles (985km)
Service Ceiling: 27,395ft (8,350m; 5.2miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 3,280 feet per minute (1,000m/min)

Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
1 x 20mm cannon
2 x 7.5mm machine guns

Variants:
D.500 - Series Model Designation

D.500.01 - Prototype Model Designation; Fitted with Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs inline piston engine generating 660hp; 2 x 7.5mm machine guns.

D.501 - Powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs inline engine capable of 690hp; Hub-mounted 20mm cannon.

D.502 - Floatplane Fighter Model; Provisions for catapult launching.

D.503 - Redesignated from the D.511 mentioned below but fitted with an HS 12Xcrs powerplant.

D.504 - Parachute Trials Model

D.505

D.509

D.510 - 120 reportedly produced of this model; based on the D.501 model; powered by the Hispano-Suiza 12Ycrs 860hp inline piston engine; increased fuel capacity; elongated nose section; Improved landing gear system; 2 x MAC 1934 machine guns replacing the Darne-manufacturer ones.

D.511 - Experimental Aircraft featuring decreased wing area and span, HS 12Ycrs powerplant and 'cantilevered' main landing gear system. Redesignated to the D.503 above.

Operators:
France

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